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upon the minds of those who had in their hands the volume of Divine revelation, and disregarded it; who had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof. Moses and the prophets pointed out the way of salvation through the Messiah that was to come.

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We therefore find our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles referring continually to the writings of the Old Testament, in support of the truth of the doctrine which they taught. He said to the Jews who were disposed to set up Moses against Him, Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me.62 And to His disciples He declared that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Him. And after His resurrection from the dead, having joined two of His disciples on their journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus, it is said, that beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.63

In like manner, the Apostles of Christ brought forward to the people in their instructions what Moses truly said unto the fathers; and what all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, had spoken. St. Peter declared respecting Jesus Christ to the household of Cornelius, To

61 2 Tim.iii.5. 62 John v.46. 63 Luke xxiv.44,27. 64 Acts iii. 22,24.

Him give all the prophets witness, that, through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.65 The sufferings of Christ, as a sacrifice for sin, and the glory that should follow,66 were subjects on which the holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, prophesied, and into which they inquired and searched diligently. The testimony which they bore, being that of the Spirit of God, carried along with it sufficient evidence of its truth, to them that looked for redemption in Israel,6 being sensible of their need of the blessings which God had promised to bestow.

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It is the knowledge of the word of God which is the means of bringing salvation to the soul. It makes known the way of salvation, to the promulgation of which the Divine blessing is promised; and therefore it shall not return unto Him void, but shall prosper in the thing whereunto it is sent. We are told that it was preached by the Apostles with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, that the Holy Ghost fell on them that heard the word, that He gave testimony unto the word of His grace. We are therefore to seek for the Divine influence of the Holy Ghost to be vouchsafed to us, while we hear the word of the truth of the gospel, that it may be effectual for the purposes for which it is communicated to us;

65 Acts x. 43. 66 1 Peter i. 10, 11. 67 2 Peter i. 21. 68 Luke ii. 38.

that we may receive it in the love of it, and may grow thereby; that we may be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves.69 Let us beware of neglecting the holy Scriptures, or disregarding the gospel of salvation which is made known to us in them. If we are not led in consequence of hearing of the Lord Jesus Christ and His great salvation, to seek earnestly for the pardon of our sins, and reconciliation with God, for acceptance in His presence, and justification before Him, through relying upon the obedience unto death of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall fall short of obtaining His blessing; notwithstanding we call ourselves by His name. The name of Christian will do us no good in that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be opened; unless it then be found that we are united to Christ by a living faith; that we are joined unto the Lord by one Spirit. May the Spirit of grace be vouchsafed to us, that we may be truly believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, with all our hearts; that we may receive the testimony of the holy Scriptures, the testimony of Moses and the prophets concerning Him; that we may have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His grace; and may walk humbly with our God, as our reconciled Father in Christ

69 James i. 22. 70 1 Corinthians vi. 17. 71 Ephesians i. 7.

Jesus, and in all our conduct live to His glory, and show forth His praise.

If we are not taught to know God by means of the revelation which He has given in His holy word, in consequence of its being applied to our hearts, or brought home to our consciences, by the power of the Holy Spirit; there is no other way in which we can be reconciled to Him, or attain to the salvation of our souls. If the evidence of the word of God be rejected, no other means will avail to our salvation. The word of God is the appointed means, to which the blessing of God is promised; they therefore who neglect or reject this, shut themselves out of heaven by their own act and deed. And upon them the most extraordinary or uncommon occurrences in Providence, are not likely to produce any saving effect. Let us then prize the word of God as the gospel of our salvation. Let us pray earnestly that it may come to us, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, that it may be to us the ingrafted word, which is able to save our souls,73 that receiving its testimony, we may walk in the way that leadeth unto life; and at length may attain to everlasting salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord; To whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be praise and dominion, for evermore. Amen.

72 1 Thessalonians i. 5.

73 James i. 21.

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A CERTAIN MAN MADE A GREAT SUPPER, AND

BADE MANY AND SENT HIS SERVANT AT
SUPPER TIME TO SAY TO THEM THAT WERE

BIDDEN, COME; FOR ALL THINGS ARE NOW
READY. AND THEY ALL WITH ONE CON-

SENT BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSE.

THE parable that is appointed as the Gospel for this day, of which these words are the commencement, was spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ, in the house of one of the chief Pharisees, who had asked Him to eat bread on the sabbath

day. In consequence of an observation made by our blessed Saviour, one of the guests said

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